Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• All chaplains must meet the following basic requirements: Citizenship- United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency - Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• Education: Master of Divinity degree or equivalent educational qualifications as evidenced by a graduate-level theological degree from a college, university or theological school accredited by a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) (https://www.chea.org/) or Association of Theological Schools (ATS) (https://www.ats.edu/) and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
• For applicants who do not possess a Master of Divinity degree or equivalent educational degree may meet this requirement with an approved educational equivalency review from a nationally recognized board certification body for chaplains
• This would include the Board of Chaplaincy Certification Inc
• (BCCI) or a U.S. certifying body that has a reciprocity agreement with BCCI
• Endorsement: Applicants must possess and maintain a full and active ecclesiastical endorsement and must be dated within the past 12 months
• A complete list of Ecclesiastical Organizations that the Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes as Ecclesiastical Endorsing Organizations is available here: https://www.patientcare.va.gov/chaplain/Ecclesiastical_Endorsement.asp Note: Current VA Chaplains do not have to get updated endorsements after they are hired
• Certification: Applicants must be a Board-Certified Chaplain by the Board of Chaplaincy Certifications Inc
• (BCCI), or a U.S. certifying body that has a reciprocity agreement with BCCI
• Board Certification that requires four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is qualifying
• https://www.apchaplains.org/bcci-site/ May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Grade Determinations: GS-9 Chaplain: To qualify at the GS-9 level, you must meet the basic requirements and must demonstrate that you have the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): Knowledge of spiritual assessments to identify patient strengths and needs and documenting services provided
• Ability to use the information of the spiritual assessment to create care plans in all dimensions of pastoral care
• Ability to provide crisis intervention and stabilization
• Skill in healthcare team collaboration to create and update treatment plans to address spiritual issues
• Ability to ensure free exercise of religion for patients and staff
• Knowledge of individual and group interventions to address spiritual and emotional needs of patients and families, providing referrals for continuity of spiritual care
• Skill in the coordination of religious services respecting the faith tradition of individual patients
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing with persons of varied backgrounds GS-11 Chaplain Experience Requirements: In addition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify at the GS-11 level you must possess at least one (1) year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-9) Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of advance care planning to educate, inform, and counsel patients and families
• Skill in guiding patients in verbalizing and expressing values through life review, oral history, and end of life preparation and documentation
• Ability to develop pastoral care programs that are measurable, outcome-driven and evidenced based within the department guidelines
• Skill in counseling on medical and ethical issues, terminal diagnoses or crises, moral injury, problems of conscience, family or marital difficulties and justice or confinement matters
• Ability to support the development of staff resiliency and develop programs for staff development and wellness by providing spiritual and emotional support
• Ability to educate and equip healthcare staff and trainees screening for spiritual and religious needs of patients and the importance of appropriate referrals to chaplains for complex spiritual distress
• Knowledge of community needs to coordinate with community organizations to provide comprehensive spiritual care, utilizing outside community resources to meet the religious needs of patients that cannot be met by chaplain staff Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-09 to GS-11
• Physical Requirements: This position requires the Chaplain to meaningfully engage with Veteran patients and family members by walking and moving within the healthcare setting or with the incumbent using an assistive device
• The Chaplain is required to speak, hear (hearing aid permitted) and work closely with others
• Meets the qualification requirements for the GS-11 Chaplain as defined in VA Handbook 5005, Part II Appendix G67, Chaplain Qualification Standard GS-0060 Veterans Health Administration.